Hey so I guess you all know how to tack...can someone give me a quick run down?

It is a basic skill for not losing too much time..sitting in the water dragging after your board, is a sure way to be left behind...so far I got: go into it with a little speed, be forward on the board push with the back foot to turn it into the wind, then move forward on the board as you turn the kite...this is pretty much where I fall off...

Good timing on this post I was just wondering that myself...sure do make it look easy and I'm guessing it probably is at least compared to doing a carve tack on a windsurf board... had a helluva time with those. The kite should help with balance a bit in the beginning.
I'm hoping to try those today.

frankm1960 wrote:Good timing on this post I was just wondering that myself...sure do make it look easy and I'm guessing it probably is at least compared to doing a carve tack on a windsurf board... had a helluva time with those. The kite should help with balance a bit in the beginning.
I'm hoping to try those today.

Well it should be easier than turning a windsurf board like this video - (its better without the sound).
As you say, even tacking a small windsurf board isn't easy. I'll go with gybing - it looks nicer.

A good description, but IMO totally useless regarding tacking a raceboard - as a strapless waveboard tack this way is soooo easy that most can do it maybe the first time, or at least learn very very fast.

On a raceboard (or even a strapped waveboard) you have to do it very different, because of the big fins so you can not just "push" through the wind, and you have the straps which are very important regarding "how to"

There are (at least) two ways of tacking - the "showoff" like Ronnies videos shows, and the "safe" mode, like I do it myself (probably because of too little skill, yup).

The big difference is, that you can tack where you rotate your body in the same direction as your board, and go from strap to strap directly.
Very difficult (IMO) and risky - but of course, can you manage every single time, it is awesome I think

The other is tacking where you rotate your body the opposite way around, so if your board heads upwind "left", you turn around "right" (clockwise), with a fast middle step on the front of the board

This type is quite easy, compared to the other tack at least, and I can usually manage it almost every time on good days (but will lose it sometimes when waves and chop, which is very common here) because of practice.

You have one advantage - that you dont have to step out of your straps before you tack, you just head upwind with speed into both straps (and you can do the same on a strapped waveboard).

I really like that - as standing out of the rear strap is useless on a raceboard (unless a lot of wind/power) IMO

Here is an older clip from a cold winther/spring day where Bjørn Rune Jensen shows this tack in light wind

I am not racing (but ride A LOT), but I think others can tell us what tack they prefer ? (and maybe different ones in different conditions ?)